Foundation garment



May 12, 1936. M. A. NATHANSON FOUNDATION GARMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1934 Filed Feb. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VA AVAVA'AVAIAVAVAVA AVAVQVQ J72 venfarx May 12, 1936 M. A. NATHANSON FOUNDAT ION GARMENT Filed Feb. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 722 men 50 Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES FOUNDATION GARMENT Matthew A. Nathanson, Brookline, Mass, as-

signor to Anna M. Nathanson, Brookline,

Mass.

Application February 8, 1934, Serial No. 710,271

8 Claims.

The invention relates to foundation garments such as corsets, girdles and the like, and more particularly to corsets of the front laced type.

A corset of this type usually employs a panel of ric, set in at the front and connecting the adjacent edges of the body portion of the corset.

This panel is provided with a stay commonly termed the central stay of the corset. This stay is normally intended to engage the body along approximately the front median line thereof for the purpose of providing support between the adjacent edges of the body portion of the corset.

When a corset of the above description has been laced to fit the wearer, it has almost invariably been found that the central stay has become displaced either in a lateral direction or in a manner to assume angular relation with respect to the front median line of the body. Displacement of the central stay from its normal position deprives the body of proper support particularly at a place where support of a substantial nature is required.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for preventing displacement of the central stay.

Another object of the invention is to include the central stay, together with means for preventing its displacement, in a detachable structure capable of adjustment to different elevations in the corset.

Still another object of the invention is to manufacture such a structure as a unit which may be inerchandized independently to be let in to a foundation garment of standard construction and of atype adapted to receive the same.

' The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of a. preferred embodiment illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a corset having 5 incorporated therewith a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isa similar view showing the positions assumed by the parts after the corset has been adjusted to a certain extent;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the structure embodying the invention shown detached;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the structure of the invention adjusted to a different elevation in the corset; 7 I

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

flexible material, such as woven or knitted fab-- 1, said section being enlarged and greatly exaggerated;

Fig. 6 is a section. taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 8 shows a corset having a. modified structure incorporated therewith;

Fig. 9 is afragmentary View showing the positions assumed by the parts after the corset of Fig. 8 has been adjusted to a certain extent; and

Fig. 10 is a front view of the structure of Fig. 8 shown detached.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a corset of the front laced type. Referring to Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive-of the drawings, the corset comprises a body portion B adapted to partially encircle the body of the wearer, and a structure S provided along its side edges with fasteners such as hooks [5 which engage eyes I6 secured to the adjacent edges ll of the said body portion B. a

The structure S is preferably of a length somewhat less than that of the adjacent edges I! of the body portion B and comprises a substantially rectangular panel I8 of freely flexiblematerial such as woven fabric which is provided at its side edges with inturned portions 19 overlapping the main portion of said panel on the vfront side thereof as. shown in Fig. 5. Reenforcing strips 20 are secured to the inturned portions 19 in any. suitable manner, said strips extending substantially throughout the entire length of said panel. The strips 20 not only serve to reenforce the panel at the side edges thereof, but also act in the capacity of stays when the structure S is incorporated with the corset. The hooks l5 previously referred to, are preferably secured to the structure S at the outer edge of ,each of the reenforcing strips. Each of the reenforcing strips is also provided with a series of eyelets 2| for the reception of a lacing 22 which engages said eyelets in a. manner to span the main portion of the panel I8 at the front side thereof. It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the portion B and the structure S together with the means for attaching the latter to said portion B constitute in effect a garment body which is adapted to encircle the body of the wearer. Also that the parts designated I! in Figs. 1 and 2 constitute laterally spaced portions of such a garment body; said portions being engaged by the lacing 22 for the purpose of adjusting the garment body to fit the body of the wearer.

j A stay 23 is secured to the outer side of the panel IS in the center of the latter and extending substantially throughout the entire length thereof. This stay constitutes what is commonly termed the central stay of the corset and it'is incorporated with the structure S in a position central stay 23 is provided with slots 24, said slots 7 extending lengthwise of said stay and being arranged in succession in the center of thewlatterj and closely adjacent the ends thereof. "Pins 25 are slidably mounted in the slots 24. A pair of rigid links 26, 26 of equal length, eafch pivotally connected to the upper pin 25at the front side of the central stay 23 (see particularly Fig. 5) connects the latter with the reenforcingstrips at the inner sides thereof. The links 26 are pivotally connected to the reenforcing strips as mm: cated at21, one of said connections being clearly shown in Fig. 6. In a similar manner a second pair of rigid. links 28, 28 also connects the central stay 23 with the reenforcing strips 20, said links being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the lower pin and at their outer ends to the reenforcing stripsi20 as indicated at 21. Thus the stay 23 forms a yielding connection between both pairs of links.

In a'modified construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10'the central stay 23'.iof.the' structure S r therein is connected by a plurality of pairs of flexible links 40 to the reenforcing strips 20' which are atached tothe inturned edges IQ of said struc ture. .The links of each'pair are of equal length. and flexibility, and are preferably. pivotally conne'cted with said stay and said reenforcing strips; When a corset similar to that .described with reference to Figs. 1 .to 7 is applied to the wearer withthe central stay 23 engagingthe body alongj approximately the front median line thereof the parts associated withthe structure S will assume positions. substantially as shown .in. Figs. 1, and 5' with theglinks of each pair preferably slightly- III-1'.- clined'to the horizontal (see Fig. 1) and with th'e pins 25 preferably located at the inner ends of the slots or closely adjacent said ends. .Thereafter when the lacing 22 is tightened to draw the adjacent edges llJof the. body portion. towards each otherto adjust the corset according'fto require-.

ments, the parts will assum'positions similar, for instance, to'th'ose shown in Figs. 2 and'l, thela'cingioperation causing the links :of each pair totake a position of greater inclination (see Fig.2) I thus forcing. the-pins 25' to move lengthwise of the slots 24. "Due to the equallengths of the-links of eachpair and their manner of connection-with the l central stay 23- and the reenforcing strips20 as above described, no movement will be imparted to the :centralstay, said stay remaining inalinementwith the median line of the body; Thus the and 10 is similarly applied to the wearer, the parts mechanism associated witlrthe structure S as previously described constitutes means for maintain ingthe stay 23 in a predetermined position between and with relation to the adjacent edges H of the body portion B. 7 7

When; a corset such as that shown in Figs; 8,9

' associated with thestructure S" will assume positions substantially as shown in Fig; 8 with the links-preferably slightly flexed. Thereafter when the lacing 2 2 is'tightened', the parts will assume positions similar, for instance to'those shown in 'Fig. 9 with the links flexed to a greater degree.

wearer. Furthermore the central stay will be held stationary in the corset after the latter has been adjusted and while it is being worn.

' In accordance with another feature of the inf vention the structure S or S may be adjusted to different elevations in the corset according to the requirements of the wearer. Such an adjustment may be effected, in respect to the. structure S, by

removing said structure from the position it'occupies in Fig. l and reassembling it with the corset for instance as shown in Fig. 4. For this purpose the hooks l5 and eyes It, previously referred to for attaching either structure to the body portion of the corset,,are equally spaced lengthwise of said structure and said body portion respectively:

To provide for'complete lacing of the corset at all times regardless of the elevation. to. which eitherof the; structures- S or S may bea'djust'ed in the corset, the adjacent edges l! of the body portion thereof are each provided with lacing .hooks adjacent their upper andlower ends.

In respect to thestructure S the lacingfl22 en-. gages the lower hooks 50 in addition to the eyelets 2 I ofrsaid structure when it is adjusted to the position of Fig. 1, and the upper hooks 59 when said diate position a sufficient numberof both upper and lower hooks 50 may be used to completethe lacing. 1 v

The structures S and S shown detached in Figs.

' 3, and 10 respectively, may each be manufactured as a separatearticle and so distributed to the trade to be incorporated with acorset orthe like of standard'construction and of a V to receive the same.

. structure is adjusted to the position shown in Fig; 4. When the structure is adjustedto intermetype adapted A corset constructed in accordancewith tlie herein described invention eliminates the necessity of providing a vest to temporarily hold the body portion in, position preparatory to lacingl because the structure above described performs this function. Such acorset is relatively simple to manufacture, requiring. at least, only the ad-l ditional expense incurred for the provision of the mechanism for preventing displacement of, the central stay.-

- Having thus described my invention, I claim .1. A corset having .a body portion adaptedto partially encircle the body of thewearer' and a structure attached to the. adjacentjedgestof ,said

body portion, said structure including, .in combi-.

nation, a panel of fabric reenforcing strips se'-.

cured to the side edges said panel, a lacing whereby said reenforcing trips may be drawn towards each other for adjusting said 'corset' 'to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said panel lengthwise of the latter and intermediate the side edges,

thereof, and a plurality of pairsof links connect ing said stay with said reenforcing strips, the

inner ends of the'links of each of saidpairsbeing pivotally connected to each-other andslidably connected with said stay, the outer ends" of the links 'of each 01' said pair's being pivotallycohne'ctedto said reenforcing'stripsf 2 A corsethaving. a body portion adapted-to partially encircle the body of the wearer and a structure attached to the adjacent edges of said body portion, said structure including, in combination, a panel of fabric, reenforcing strips secured to the side edges of said panel, a lacing whereby said reenforcing strips may be drawn towards each other for adjusting said corset to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said panel lengthwise oi the latter and intermediate the side edges thereof, a plurality of slots in said stay extending lengthwise thereof, a pin slidably mounted in each of said slots, a pair of links connecting each of said pins with said reenforcing strips, at least one of the inner ends of the links of each pair being pivotally connected with its corresponding pin, the outer ends of the links of each pair being pivotally connected to said reenforcing strips.

3. As an article of manufacture to be let in to a foundation garment, a structure including, in combination, a substantially rectangular panel of freely flexible material, reenforcing strips secured to the side edges of said panel, a stay secured to said panel lengthwise of the latter and intermediate the side edges thereof, a plurality of pairs of links connecting said stay with said reenforcing strips, the inner ends of the links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to each other and slidably connected with said stay, the outer ends of the links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to said reenforcing strips, a lacing engaging said strips in a manner to span said stay, and means whereby said structure may be fastened in such a garment.

4. As an article of manufacture to be let in to a foundation garment, a structure including, in combination, a substantially rectangular panel of freely flexible material, reenforcing strips secured to the side edges of said panel, a stay secured to said panel lengthwise of the latter and intermediate the side edges thereof, a plurality of slots in said stay extending lengthwise thereof, a pin slidably mounted in each of said slots, a pair of links connecting each of said pins with said reenforcing strips, at least one of the inner ends of the links of each pair being pivotally connected with its corresponding pin, the outer ends of the links of each pair being pivotally connected to said reenforcing strips, a lacing engaging said strips in a manner to span said stay, and means whereby said structure may be fastened in such a garment.

5. A foundation garment having, in combination, a garment body adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, a lacing engaging laterally spaced portions of said garment body for adjusting the garment to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said garment body between said laterally spaced portions, and means for maintaining said stay in a predetermined position between and with relation to said laterally spaced portions, said means including a plurality of pairs of links connecting said stay with said laterally spaced portions; the inner ends of the links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to each other and slidably connected with said stay, the outer ends of the links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to said laterally spaced portions.

6. A foundation garment having, in combination, a garment body adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, a lacing engaging laterally spaced portions of said garment body for adjusting the garment to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said garment body between said laterally spaced portions, and means for maintaining said stay in a predetermined position between and with relation to said laterally spaced portions, said means including a plurality of links connecting said stay with said laterally spaced portions, said stay forming a yielding connection between at least two of said links.

7. A foundation garment having, in combination, a garment body adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, a lacing engaging laterally spaced portions of said garment body for adjusting the garment to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said garment body between said laterally spaced portions, and means for maintaining said stay in a predetermined position between and with relation to said laterally spaced portions, said means including a plurality of links connecting said stay with said laterally spaced portions, said links being mounted for relative movement.

8. A foundation garment having, in combination, a garment body adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, a lacing engaging laterally spaced portions of said garment body for adjusting the garment to fit the wearer, a stay secured to said garment body between said laterally spaced portions, and means for maintaining said stay in a predetermined position between and with relation to said laterally spaced portions, said means including two pairs of links, a set of rivets carried by said stay and connecting both pairs of links therewith, and a second set of rivets carried by said laterally spaced portions and connecting both pairs of links with said portions, each of the rivets of one of said sets being slidably mounted in the part by which it is carried.

MATTHEW A. NATHANSON. 

